Blockchain based secure,efficient and coordinated energy trading and data sharing between electric vehicles

Cluster Computing - In this study, a secure and coordinated blockchain based energy trading system for Electric Vehicles (EVs) is presented. The major goals of this study are to provide secure and...     

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria enhanced growth,oil yield,antioxidant properties and biodiesel quality of Kasumbha

Biodiesel is considered as a potential alternative energy source, but problem exists with the quantity and quality of feedstock used for it. To improve the feedstock quality of biodiesel, a field experiment was conducted under natural conditions. Cultivar Thori of kasumbha was used in the experiment. Commercialized biofertilizers were applied at the rate of 20 kg per acre and chemical fertilizer (diammonium phosphate) was applied as half dose (15 kg/ha). Results indicated that number of leaf plant⁻¹, leaf area, number of seeds capitulum⁻¹ was significantly increased by biofertilizer treatment alone (BF) and combine treatment of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer (BFCF). Agronomic traits such as plant height, no. of branches of a plant, no. of capitulum/plant was improved significantly by BF treatment over the control. Maximum 1000 seed weight (41%) and seed yield (23%) were recorded in half dose of chemical fertilizers treatment (CFH). Seed oil content and seed phenolics were significantly improved by BF and CF treatments while maximum biodiesel yield was recorded by BF treatment. Maximum oleic acid was recorded by BF treatment while other fatty acids being maximum in control except linoleic acid in BFCF treatment. Results for specific gravity were non-significant while acid value and free fatty acid contents were substantially reduced by BF treatment as compared to other treatments. Maximum value of iodine number was recorded in BFCF treatment while tocopherol contents were improved by BF treatment. It is inferred that biofertilizer treatment alone perform better as compared to other treatments and 50% chemical fertilizer can be replaced using biofertilizer which is a good approach for sustainable environmental-friendly agriculture.Keyword: Green energy, Biofuel, Biodiesel, Kasumbha, Biofertilizers, Fatty acid, NMR     

Synergism of cellulase enzymes in mixed culture solid substrate fermentation

Sugar cane bagasse was subjected to a mixed culture, solid substrate fermentation with Trichoderma reesei QM9414 and Aspergillus terreus SUK-1 to produce cellulase and reducing sugars. The highest cellulase activity and reducing sugar amount were obtained in mixed culture. The percentage of substrate degradation achieved employing mixed culture was 26% compared to 50% using separate cultures of the two molds. This suggests that the synergism of enzymes in mixed culture solid substrate fermentation have lower synergism than in pure culture.     

Activation of Ca2+ influx by metabolic substrates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: role of membrane potential and cellular ATP levels

Influx of Ca2+ into cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was measured under non-steady-state conditions, which enable measurements of the initial rate of transport across plasma membranes without interference by the vacuolar Ca2+ transport system. Removal of glucose from the incubation medium led to inactivation of Ca2+ influx within 5 min. Readdition of glucose led to a transient increase in the rate of Ca2+ transport, reaching a peak after 3-5 min. A second increase was observed 60-80 min later. To examine whether the first transient activation of Ca2+ influx by glucose was mediated by membrane hyperpolarization, influx of 45Ca2+ was measured in the presence and absence of metabolic substrates (glucose, glycerol, and glucose plus antimycin A) in cells hyperpolarized to different values of membrane potential (delta psi). Logarithms of the rate of Ca2+ influx were plotted against values of delta psi. Two different slopes were obtained, depending upon whether the metabolic substrate was present or absent. Ca2+ influx in the presence of the metabolic substrates was always higher than expected by their effect on delta psi. Glycerol plus antimycin A did not affect Ca2+ influx. It was concluded that metabolized substrates activate Ca2+ influx not only by effects on delta psi but also by additional mechanism(s). Since no simple correlation between Ca2+ influx and intracellular ATP levels was observed, it was concluded that ATP levels do not affect the initial rates of Ca2+ transport across the plasma membrane of S. cerevisiae.     

Responses of four arid zone grass species from varying habitats to drought stress

The effects of 4 or 8 drought cycles on four grass species,Cenchrus pennisetiformis, Leptochloa fusca, Panicum turgidum, andPennisetum divisum were assessed in a pot experiment. There were significant differences between the species in biomass production under water stress.C. pennisetiformis andP. turgidum produced significantly greater fresh and dry matter thanP. divisum and especially thanL. fusca. L. fusca had the lowest andP. divisum highest osmotic potentials compared with the other species after the completion of 4 or 8 drought cycles. Osmotic adjustment (difference between osmotic potential of droughted/rehydrated plants and control plants) was highest inL. fusca. The stomatal conductance was significantly decreased with increased drought stress inC. pennisetiformis. The elasticity ofC. pennisetiformis, P. turgidum andP. divisum increased with increase in number of drought cycles, whereas that ofL. fusca remained unchanged.L. fusca andP. turgidum had the lowest leaf hydration of all species after 8 drought cycles. The chlorophyllsa andb in all species remained unaffected by drought treatments. The proline content ofC. pennisetiformis andL. fusca increased significantly with increased drought stress, whereas that ofP. turgidum remained unaffected after 4 or 8 drought cycles.L. fusca synthesized great amount of leaf soluble proteins during 8 drought cycles, whereasP. divisum had low protein content after 4 drought cycles. The protein contents ofC. pennisetiformis andP. turgidum remained unaffected after 8 drought cycles. The leaf epicuticular wax ofL. fusca increased consistently with increased drought stress, but leaf wax ofP. divisum increased only at the highest drought stress and that ofC. pennisetiformis andP. turgidum increased after 4 drought cycles. On the basis of these results it was established thatC. pennisetiformis andP. turgidum were the most tolerant,P. divisum intermediate, andL. fusca the most sensitive to drought stress. The osmotic adjustment did not positively correlate with the degree of drought resistance.     

Vector bionomics and malaria transmission in the Upper Orinoco River, Southern Venezuela

A longitudinal epidemiological and entomological study was carried out in Ocamo, Upper Orinoco River, between January 1994 and February 1995 to understand the dynamics of malaria transmission in this area. Malaria transmission occurs throughout the year with a peak in June at the beginning of the rainy season. The Annual Parasite Index was 1,279 per 1,000 populations at risk. Plasmodium falciparum infections accounted for 64% of all infections, P. vivax for 28%, and P. malariae for 4%. Mixed P. falciparum/P. vivax infections were diagnosed in 15 people representing 4% of total cases. Children under 10 years accounted for 58% of the cases; the risk for malaria in this age group was 77% higher than for those in the greater than 50 years age group. Anopheles darlingi was the predominant anopheline species landing on humans indoors with a biting peak between midnight and dawn. A significant positive correlation was found between malaria monthly incidence and mean number of An. darlingi caught. There was not a significant relationship between mean number of An. darlingi and rainfall or between incidence and rainfall. A total of 7295 anophelines were assayed by ELISA for detection of Plasmodium circumsporozoite (CS) protein. Only An. darlingi (55) was positive for CS proteins of P. falciparum (0.42%), P. malariae (0.25%), and P. vivax-247 (0.1%). The overall estimated entomological inoculation rate was 129 positive bites/person/year. The present study was the first longitudinal entomological and epidemiological study conducted in this area and set up the basic ground for subsequent intervention with insecticide-treated nets.     

Clonal analysis of adult human olfactory neurosphere forming cells

Olfactory neuroepithelium (ONe) is unique because it contains progenitor cells capable of mitotic division that replace damaged or lost neurons throughout life. We isolated populations of ONe progenitors from adult cadavers and patients undergoing nasal sinus surgery that were heterogeneous and consisted of neuronal and glial progenitors. Progenitor lines have been obtained from these cultures that continue to divide and form nestin positive neurospheres. In the present study, we used clonal and population analyses to probe the self-renewal and multipotency of the neurosphere forming cells (NSFCs). NSFCs plated at the single cell level produced additional neurospheres; dissociation of these spheres resulted in mitotically active cells that continued to divide and produce spheres as long as they were subcultured. The mitotic activity of clonal NSFCs was assessed using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. Lineage restriction of the clonal cultures was determined using a variety of antibodies that were characteristic of different levels of neuronal commitment: β-tubulin isotype III, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and microtubule associated protein (MAP2), or glial restriction: astrocytes, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); and oligodendrocytes, galactocerebroside (GalC). Furthermore, nestin expression, a marker indicative of progenitor nature, decreased in defined medium compared to serum-containing medium. Therefore, adult human ONe-derived neural progenitors retain their capacity for self-renewal, can be clonally expanded, and offer multipotent lineage restriction. Therefore, they are a unique source of progenitors for future cell replacement strategies in the treatment of neurotrauma and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Foliar application of ascorbic acid enhances salinity stress tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through modulation of morpho-physio-biochemical attributes,ions uptake,osmo-protectants and stress response genes expression

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major cereal grain and is known as a halophyte (a halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity). We therefore conducted a pot experiment to explore plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, stomatal properties, oxidative stress and antioxidant response and their associated gene expression and absorption of ions in H. Vulgare. The soil used for this analysis was artificially spiked at different salinity concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM) and different levels of ascorbic acid (AsA) were supplied to plants (0, 30 and 60 mM) shortly after germination of the seed. The results of the present study showed that plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange parameters, stomatal properties and ion uptake were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by salinity stress, whereas oxidative stress was induced in plants by generating the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells/tissues compared to plants grown in the control treatment. Initially, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and relative gene expression increased to a saline level of 100 mM, and then decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by increasing the saline level (150 mM) in the soil compared to plants grown at 0 mM of salinity. We also elucidated that negative impact of salt stress in H. vulgare plants can overcome by the exogenous application of AsA, which not only increased morpho-physiological traits but decreased oxidative stress in the plants by increasing activities of enzymatic antioxidants. We have also explained the negative effect of salt stress on H. vulgare can decrease by exogenous application of AsA, which not only improved morpho-physiological characteristics, ions accumulation in the roots and shoots of the plants, but decreased oxidative stress in plants by increasing antioxidant compounds (enzymatic and non-enzymatic). Taken together, recognizing AsA's role in nutrient uptake introduces new possibilities for agricultural use of this compound and provides a valuable basis for improving plant tolerance and adaptability to potential salinity stress adjustment.     

Synthesis,Design, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Diethylphenylcarbamothioylphosphonate

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - The aim of this work was to synthesize a diethyl phenylcarbamothioyl phosphonate (EThmP) and evaluate its biological activities. ThmP has been prepared...